Controlling device for headlights



April 14, 1925. 1,533,743

J.,A. KIMBALL CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR HEADLIGHTS Filed Dec. '7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR yaw/24 2% v WITNESS: ATTORNEY April 14, 1925. 1,533,743

. J. A. KlMBALL CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR HEADLIGHTS File d Deli. '7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS:

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Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

, UNITED "STA E 1,533,743 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. KIMBALL, OLE TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS.

CONTROLLING nEvIon FOR rmanmen'rs.

Application filed December 7, 1923. Serial No. 679,224.

To all whom it may concern. v Be it known that I, JOHN A.'KIMBALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Taylorville, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Controlling Devices for Headlights, of'which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to vehicle head lamps and specifically to means for mounting the lamps and is an improvement upon inventions for which applications for patents were filed by me October 6th and 6th, 1923, the saidapplications having Serial Numbers 666,684 and 666,-

990, respectively.

An object of the present invention is to improve and simplify the construction of tiltable head lamps as disclosed in the above .mentioned applications and provides simple,

reliable and eflicient means for mounting the lamps in a manner to hold them against accidental movement and to prevent the lamp supporting and actuating means from lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims. In the draw1ngs:-- Figure 1- IS a fragmentary plan view showing a portion of a motor vehicle with the hood removed and parts broken away 'and the invention attached.

Figure'Q is a fragmentary plan view showing arock shaft and bearing brackets, the shaft being provided with a connecting 'a-rm near each end. I

Figure 3 is. a similar. view showing the rock shaft provided with stops at; one'end y H v Fi ure l is a fra ment-a1 end view illus- ,1: b tratingthe manner of mounting the bearing brackets, the fender brace rod being shown in section.

Figure is a view looking at the opposite side from that shown in Figure 4 wlth the fender brace rod removed and the rock shaft in section.

Figure 6 1s a fragmentary perspectlve view showing a rock shaft as illustrated in Figure '3.

.Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view I ets 13.

showing one end of the rock shaft and a In ter 10 indicates the radiator of an automobile and '11 the head lamps positioned at opposite sides thereof. 7 1n the type of automobile illustrated there is included upon each side thereof a fender brace rod 12 within which the post for each of the. lamps 11 is ordinarily mounted. In the present invention however," inverted substantially L-shaped bearing brackets 13 are substituted for these lamp posts, the

said brackets extending forwardly upon op- .posite sides of the radiator. It is of course .understood that where the fender brace rods. 12 are not employed, other suitable means may be utilized for mounting the brackets 1- Extending transversely across the front of the radiator 10 is a horizontal rockshaft v14., the opposite ends 15 of which are mounted in bearings provided in the brack Adjacent each end the shaft 14 is enlargedas shown at 16 and these enlargements are provided with openings 17' to receive the usual lamp post 18 upon which the lamps 11 are mounted. Preferably extending from each of the enlarged'p'ortions 15 of the shaft 14 are upwardly and out- "-wardly disposed arms 19 which are spaced above the brackets'13; One of these arms at each end of the shaft carries an adjustable stop screw 20 which is adapted to engage its particular bracket 13 so as to limit the forward rocking movement offthe shaft 14-. Movement 1n an opposite direction is limited by'stop' screws 21 which are also adapted to engage the brackets 13.- The last mentioned stop screws are surrounded by coiled springs 22 which are interposed between the armg and the brackets 13 and act to yieldingly force the stops 20 into engagement with the. brackets so that the lamps will be normally tilted forward and downward, the particular angle being regulated by the adjustable stop screws 20.

\Vhile the stops and arms are shown upon opposite ends of the shaft 14, if desired they may be dispensed with at one end of the shaft, as shown in Figures 3 and def-the drawings. U r

Surrounding the shaft 14' at opposite ends thereof are coiled springs 23 which bear against the bracket 13 and shoulders provided at the outer end of the enlarged portions 16 of the shaft. These springs take up the end thrust of the shaft and thus prevent end play and rattling.

Extending from the shaft 14 near one end thereof is an upwardly extending arm 24 which has connected thereto one end of a rod 25. This rod extends rearwardly through the 'shell of the radiator 10 and is connected to a crank arm 26 which is carried by a rock shaft 27. The rod 25 is of sectional formation and the adjacent ends of the sections are connected by a spring 28. The rock shaft 27 is provided with an additional crank arm 29 which is connected through the medium of a rod 30 with the operating lever 31, the latter being secured to the steering post of the vehicle by means of a clamp 32. The rod 30 may also be of sectional formation with its sections connected by a spring 33. A spring 34 extends around the steering post and has its opposite ends connected to the shaft 27 so as to prevent any tendency of the parts to rattle.

Normally, the lamps are arranged to project the rays of light forwardly and downwardly, their inclination being regulated by the stops 20 which are held in contacting position with the brackets 13 through the springs 22 as previously mentioned. When it is desired to elevate the lights, the driver may do so by a pull upon the operating lever, whereupon the shaft 14 will be rocked rearward against the action of the springs 22. Upon approaching another vehicle, the driver may swing the operating lever in an opposite direction to release the shaft and permit the springs 22 to force the lamps downwardly so that the rays of light will again be projected directly in front of the vehicle and will not interfere with the Vision of the driver of a vehicle approaching. The operating lever 31 is held against accidental movement and when the shaft 14 is rocked to elevate the lamps, the latter will remain in this position until purposely moved. 7 I

In Figure 2 of the drawings the shaft is arranged so that a rod 25 may be connected adjacent each of the lamps and for this purpose the said shaft has extending therefrom near each end, arms 24. It is of course apparent that where two of these arms are employed, their rods 25 will be connected to cranks arms carried by the rock shaft 27 and the latter will be extended transversely for this purpose.

In Figure 3, the arms 19 at one end of the rock shaft 14 are dispensed with and one of the bearing brackets 13 i's'shortened. In

other respects the construction is substan -ti-ally the same.

In Figures? and 8, one of the arms, for example the/arm 19, carries at its outer end an inverted cup-shaped member 35, from which extends a lug 36, the latter having a threaded engagement with a screw'37 so as to provide a stop similar to the stop 21. The cup-shaped member 35 receives one end of a spring 38 and the latter'bears upon the bearing bracket 13 and yieldingly holds the stop 20 in engagement with the said bracket so as to limit rocking movement of the shaft in one direction. The screw 37 limits rocking movement of the shaft in an opposite direction, as will be readily understood.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 9, the rock'shaft 14. carries an outwardly extending arm 38, the free end of which is positioned between spaced extensions 39'of one of the bearing brackets. One of these extensions is provided with an adjustable stop or screw 40 which located in the path. of the arm 38 to limit rocking movement of the shaft in one direction, while the other extension 39 is provided with'a similar stop or screw 41 to limit movement of the shaft in an opposite direotion. This lastmentionedstop or screw su ports a spring 42 which acts to yieldingy hold the arm 38 engaged with the stop 40.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1- 1. The combination with'a motor vehicle, of bearing brackets mounted upon opposite sides of the vehicle, a horizontal rock shaft mounted in said brackets and extending transversely across the front of the vehicle, means extending within the vehicle and operatively connected to said shaft, whereby the latter may be rocked, adjustable means carried by the shaft and engaging one of the brackets to limit movement of the shaft in opposite directions andmeans for yieldingly holding one of the stops in engaged position. 1 s

2. The combination with a motor vehicle, of forwardly extending inverted substantially L-shaped bearing brackets mounted upon opposite sides of the vehicle, a horizontal rock shaft mounted in said brackets and extending transversely across the front of the vehicle, means extending within the vehicle and operatively connected to said shaft, whereby the lattermay be rocked, adjustable means carried by the shaft and engaging one of the brackets to limitmovement of the shaft in opposite directions and means for yieldingly holding one of the stops in engaged position. I

3. The combination with a'motor vehicle, of bearing brackets mounted upon. opposite sides of the vehicle, a horizontal rock shaft mounted in said brackets and extending transversely across the front of the vehicle, means extending within the Vehicle and operatively connected to said shaft, whereby the latter may be rocked, oppositely disposed arms extending from one end of the shaft, adjustable means carried by each of said arms and engaging one of the brackets to limit movement of the shaft in opposite directions and means for yieldingly holding one of the stops in engaged position.

4. The combination with a motor vehicle, of bearing brackets mounted upon opposite sides of the vehicle, a horizontal rock shaft mounted in said brackets and extending transversely across the front of the vehicle, means extending within the vehicle and 0peratively connected to said shaft, whereby the latter may be rocked, oppositely disposed arms extending from one end of the'shaft, adjustable stops carried by each of said arms and engaging one of the brackets to limit movement of the shaft in opposite directions and a spring interposed betweeir one of said arms and brackets to yieldingly hold one of the stops in engaged position.

5. The combination with a motor vehicle,

of bearing brackets mounted upon opposite 'means extending within the vehicle and operatively connected to said shaft whereby the latter may be rocked, oppositely disposed curved arms extending outwardly from one end of the shaftover the brackets, adjustable stops carried by saidarms and engaging the bracket to limit movement of the shaft in opposite directions and means interposed between one of the arms'and brackets to yieldingly hold one of the stops in engaged position.

6. The combination with a motor vehicle, of bearing brackets mounted upon opposite sides of the vehicle, a horizontal rock shaft mounted in said brackets and extending transversely across the front of the vehicle, means extending within the vehicle and 0peratively connected to the shaft whereby the latter may be rocked, oppositely disposed arms carried by the shaft, adjustable means carried by the arms to limit movement of the shaft in opposite directions and means for yieldingly resisting movement of the shaft in one direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN A. KIMBALL. 

